"American Drifter"

(An abridgment from novel: authors Heather Graham and Chad Michael Murray)

River Roulet travels to South America. In Brazil, he meets Natal in Rio de Janeiro ~
an impassive journalist and 'free spirit.'

War has turned River angry and bitter ~ but Natal rekindles his curiosity for the world around him.
Waiting for her one morning, to drive with her into Rio, he was fascinated with the editors in a local newspaper (all in English). The “American Drifter” Natal had written focused on a census taken in the United States ~ how people were asked about their colour, religion and ethnicity.Yet, the whole article stated, there should be only one answer that everyone should have to give ~ whether they were born in the country or naturalized an American. Until the government and the people stop discerning between colour, faith and original ethnicity, not all Americans will be free to chase 'the American Dream.'

Still, as a foreigner, I applaud the country for the ideal of equality so many hold true....speaks to its citizens...for somewhere, that dream still does exist. But then, nowhere else in the world was like Rio ~

where Joy and Dance and Music

were the pursuit of life happiness.

River knew that Natal was smart ~ and a philosophic. She reminded people that material desires could get in the way of living. She wrote about the wonderful things in Rio that cost nothing...the sights to see...the things to do...and how just taking a walk at night could be the greatest freedom.

Following Natal one day, when meeting at the laundry, she asked his name...”River,” he said. Natal responded, “You are 'water,” River commented, “I read your name in a tourist magazine.

You write so well about America.”

She further stated, “The New World was all about sugar in your country...tobacco and cotton. But when the wars for independence began, all fought and all were free. Oh, I'm not saying, there aren't people here who are still prejudiced ~ against the native populations....against this one or that one who for a colour or a religion...or sex...or sexual choice...but not our society at large. Everyone here: gay...strait...black...white...Indian...and we tend to just love one another in the streets. We're happy!

We dance...we samba...we live for music...and life.

Deep in thought, River said, “Dear friend, Natal, Brazil was the last country in the western hemisphere

to abolish slavery...” And she replied, “The original Portuguese settlers were mostly men ~ and they looked for companions among the Indigenous people ~ and yes the slaves ~ so we are truly all mixed up ~ a big mix of hundreds of years ~ and we think nothing of it.

In the thirties, the government encouraged workers

to come from Europe ~ but not Asia or Africa.

We are a browner society in general ~ and our constitution prohibits discrimination

by the government and by the people.

Women may not be discriminated against ~ and yet for some old men, it's hard. They think that a woman's place (as you Americans say it) is barefoot...and pregnant...and in the kitchen!)

But.we toss our hair at those who carry cultural weight and think they are 'macho men.”

We love life ~ and I love to write about all life:

the good and the bad and what makes it special.

“Life? What makes it special?” River asked Natal.

“Art...pictures...music...and traveling. Dancing and meeting people (the people in the streets)...little children...pets...and and everything.The grass...the sun...the mountains...and the valleys. Nature's beauty, all of it. The oceans and lakes....and rivers.

Here, sadly, sometimes, money talks ~ the colour ~ that is what sometimes matters.

“I believe,” stated River, “That's the whole world. Life is what we make it.”

The bus came along ~ and they did not pay. Leaning toward him,

Natal said, “Don't worry. River, Mr. Water, my friend,
“I will see to it that I pay double a few times.

“Come, River, it will be an adventure!

To which he replied, “I'm into adventure!”

Grabbing his hand, she pulled him to an overhang on the side of the road where people were waiting.

She nodded and smiled as they joined the throng. The roads here were dusty; farmers and women carrying belongings in rolled up scarves waited. The bus, spewing all kinds of smoke and noxious fumes pulled up. A horde seemed to step off~ and the group they were part of, moved on. Natal led him through the back doors, where they were swept up in the sea of people ~ and pushed toward the back. The bus was going where it was going anyways. And if anyone noticed, they were not paying, he did have bills in his backpack. For awhile, he held on to Natal and stood next to a man clutching a chicken. Natal smiled at him and spoke to the man ~ and River patted the chicken on the head.

Following a truck ride, Natal pointed to a small footpath that led upward, obscured by bracken. She knew where she was going.The rainforest here was geologically ancient ~ way older than the Amazonian rain forest. When explorers first came to the coast, they had seen nothing but green.

This forest, so rich, it eclipsed all else. It had been called Mata Atlantica (Atlantic Forest).and had stretched 125 miles inland ~ and now ~ the 12 million civilization who currently lived on the coast, had changed it. In these wilds, a man could catch glimpses of woody spider makers...a lion tamarind...or a sloth. Monkeys could be seen up in the trees. Only special and wonderful places were left where the flora and fauna reigned supreme.

Breaking into a clearing, a few vendors were selling cheese, fruit, bread and some dried fruit. Following a few purchases, climbing, there were clear patches...areas of rocks...stretches of scrufff...and even heavy brush. We are about to find the treasure, Natal called back to River.

Into another clearing, they had climbed fairly high, but nowhere as high Corcovado Mountain, which they could see in the distance. The Christ Redeemer statue, in the late afternoon sunlight, seemed to glisten and gleam ~ and look down on them with a holy light.

'This is breath-taking,” announced River. “Truly beautiful.”

Setting out a blanket, Natal opened little containers of food.

“You can feel love and forgiveness.

You don't need to see the forests.”

River asked her, “Are we in a National Park?” Answering him, she replied,

“The statue is in Tijuca National Park”.

There is a chapel under the statue ~ and there are so many tourists.

There is an old mountain pass and it will take you there, when you wish ~ but I prefer it here.

We can't stay long here ~ I must be back soon. I am a free spirit. I don't answer personal questions.

Adventurers make no promises ~ and they give no explanations or excuses.

The foregoing gleaned by Merle Baird-Kerr...October 23, 2019

Your comments welcome: mbairdkerr@cogeco.ca